Shutter for searchlights



Feb. 10. 1925. 1,525,541

' 5 T. HALL SHUTTER FOR SEARCHLIGHTS Fil ed Jan. 10, 1918 2Sheets-Sheet, 1

HI I Ill? m mvmron WZW A TTOR/VE Feb. 10. 1925. 1,525,541

T. HALL SHUTTER FOR SEARCHLIGHTS Filed Jan. 10, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INl/E/V TOR 71/5000/75 HALL Patented Feb. 10, 1925.

THEODORE HALL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YOR COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK,

ASSIGNOR TO- THE SPERRY G YRO SCOPE A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SHUTTER FOR SEARCHLIGHTS.-

Application filed January 10, 1918. Serial No. 211,288.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that. I, THEODORE HALL, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at 455 Fortieth Street, Brookl n, in the county ofKings and State of ew York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Shutters for Searchlights, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to light interrupt.- ing shutters, morespecifically to shutters adapted to be employed in connection withsearchlights for interrupting the beam of the latter.

While my invention is capable of broader application it has beendesigned principally for use in connection with searchlights adapted tobe employed in the Army or Navy. Up to the present time it has beennecessary, in order to meet the requirements of the Army and Navy, toprovide two shutters on each searchlight; one of the iris type and theother of the Venetian blind type. The former type possesses theadvantage that it is adapted to form an absolutely light tight closurefor the Searchlight, but. is incapable :of being operialted with therapidit necessary or si'gna ing purposes.

On the other hand the Venetian blind type, while capable of beingrapidly operated, is not light tight when closed so that if this type ofshutter were used alone it would be impossible to shut off the lightabsolutely without extinguishing the are or other light source.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a singleshutter possessing the advantages of both of the above mentioned typesof shutters. Other objects and advantages will appear as the inventionis hereinafter developed.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate what I now consider thepreferred forms of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one form of shutter.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

F ig, 4 is a side elevation of the shutter shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail of the central portion of thestructure shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views illustrating alternate blades of theshutter shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a detail, with parts brokenaway, illustrating a modified'formof blade.

Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail illustrating oneform of interengagingmeans between the outer ends of the blades and shutter frame.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating one form ofinterengaging means between adjacent blades of the shutter.

Fig. 12 is a section taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary detail illustrating a modification of the meansfor operating the shutter.

Fig. 14 is a perspective of a Searchlight embodying one form of myinvention.

- Viewed from a generic aspect, my invention comprises a frame having acentral opening, blades pivoted within the frame and means forpreventing the passage of light rays between the blades and between theframe and blades when the latter are in closed position.

Calling attention to Figs. 1, .2 and 4:, it will be seen that I haveillustrated an annular frame 1, forming an integral part of, or adaptedto be connected in any suitable manner to a Searchlight drum 2. Whilevarious forms of blades may be employed I have shown a plurality of'sector-shaped blades 3, 4 pivoted for rotation about radial axes withinthe frame 1.

Each of the blades 3, 4 is shown as being provided at opposite ends withstub shafts 5, 6; the shafts 5 being rotatably mounted in a ring 7secured to the outer periphery of the frame 1. Inner shafts 6 are shownrotatably mounted in a block or hub 8, supported by a member 9 carriedat the center of the frame by means of straps 10. While the shutter isadapted to be used with various types of lights, I have shown the memher 9 in the form of a sleeve through which the positive carbon orcarbon holder 50 is adapted to pass when the shutter is used with theSperry Searchlight, the member thus serving also to support theelectrode. Various forms of mechanism may be adopted for operating theblades from open to closed position, and vice versa. One form ofmechanical means for accompllshmg this function is shown in F lgs. 1 to4, inclusive,

lows.

. the ring 7 while the arms 11 of the alterternate blades, as forexample,

nate blades 3 ,project to the opposite side. Each of the said arms 11 isprovided with an outwardly extending pin 12 adapted to operate in a slot13 provided in a corresponding arm 14, the arms 14 being secured to thering 15 provided on the periphery of the frame 1.

The above described parts are so designed that when the rin 15 isshifted about its axis, the arms 11 wlll be thrown or operated throughan angle approximately equal to 90 so that the blades will be operatedfrom closed position, as shown in Fig. 1, to open position, as indicatedin- Figs. 5 and 14, or vice versa. A plurality of guide brackets 16 maybe secured to the outer periphery of frame 1, on opposite sides 0 thering 15 for the purpose of preventing ongitudinal displacement of thelatter. The ring 15 may be shifted manually by means of a handle 17secured thereto or may be shifted electrically, as will hereinafter bedescribed.

In order to prevent leakage or passage of light between the blades whenthe latter are in closed position, strips 18 may be secured to theradial edges of certain of the blades. I prefer to provide the strips18on the althe blades 3, the remaining blades being of but one thicknessof metal, in order that the beam of the searchli'ght or other lightsource be obstructed as little as possible when the shutter is in openposition.

Calling attention to the fact that the blades 3 operate in the samedirection, but in a direction opposite to that of blades 4, it will beseen that the strips 18,- which are preferably flared slightly, Wlllserve to guide the edges of the blades 4 into the adjacent groovesformed by said strips 18 when the blades are operated to closedposition, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 11. On inspection of thelast mentioned figure, it will be apparent that an absolutelylight-tight joint is formed between the blades when in closed position.

I prefer also to provide means for preventing the passage of lightbetween the outer edges of the blades and the frame when the blades arein closed position. Thus, each of the blades 3, 4 may be provided withoppositely extending flanges 19 adapted to enter grooves 20 provided inblocks 21 secured to the inner periphery of the frame 1, when the bladesare operated to closed position. Means are also provided for preventingthe leakage of light at the central portion of the shutter. The lastnamed means is shown in the form of a pair of disks or cup shapedmembers 22 slidably mounted on the sleeve 9 on opposite sides of the hub8. The members 22 are shown as biased to blade-engaging-position bymeans of springs-23, each abutting at one end a corresponding one ofmembers 22 and at the other .end a corresponding disk or collar 24 fixedon 'said sleeve 9. It will be seen that the springs 23 will permit themembers 22 to spreadapart on opening of the shutter and will cause saidmembers 22 to engage the blades 3-4 when the latter are in closed ition.

It will be obvious from the above description that I have provided ashutter which, while being absolutely light tight in closed position, iscapable of being operated with such rapidity as to render it ca able ofbeing used for code or-other signal ing purposes.

My invention -may be modified in various ways, for example, the blades3, instead of being constructed as above described and as shown in Fig.7, may be constructed as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. As shown in the lastmentioned figures, each of the blades 3 comprises three blades of metal25, 26 and 27. The blades and 27 are exactly similar, both as to sizeand shape, while the central blade 26 is somewhat smaller. On inspectionof Fig. 9, it will be seen that the said blades 25, 26 and 27, aresecured to each other by means of rivets or other suitable means in sucha manner as to provide radial grooves similar to the grooves between thestrips 18, hereinbefore'described.

As previously mentioned, electrical means may be employed for operatingthe ring 15. Thus, in Figs. 4 and 13, I have shown a solenoid 30 securedto the frame 1, by means of bracket 31, the core of said solenoid beingsecured by means of a link 32 to toggle mechanism 33. The last mentionedmechanism is secured at one end 34 to the frame 1, and at the other end35 to the operating ring 15. 7 one end to the pin 37 carried by theframe 1, and at the other end 38 to the toggle mechanism. Onenergization of the solenoid 30. the coreof the latter will be attractedto pull on the toggle mechanism to cause the ring 15 to move in such adirection as to operate the blades 3-4 to open position. Ondeenergization of the solenoid, the spring 36 will act to restore theparts to normal position. in which position the shutter is closed. Thesolenoid 30 may be energized by means. of a batterv or other source ofpotential 39, the said battery being connected in series with saidsolenoid, and with a key 40.

I have shown in Fig. 13, a modified form of operating connecton betweenthe ring 15 and the shafts 5, In this figure, the last The spring 36 maybe secured at with arms 11,

instead of being provided are each provided with a segmental gear 41adapted to engage corresponding rack teeth 42 provided on the ring 15.As previouslystated, I prefer to rotate alternate blades in the samedirection, and for this purpose idlers 43 may be provided between theteeth 42 and those of gears 41, wh ch are connected to the blades 3. Theedge strips of blades 3 may either be constructed so as to projectbeyond the blades an equal amount, as indicated in Fig. 11 or a pair ofdiagonally opposite members 18 (see Fig. 9) maybe made longer than theremaining pair 18". With the last described arrangement, by making themembers 18 and 18" resilient, the said members 18 w ll'serveto guide theadjacent blades 4 into the grooves of blades 3 when the latter areoperated to closed position as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 9.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have hereindescribed the principle of operation of my invention, together with the"apparatus, which I' now cons'der to represent the best embodimentthereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown isonly illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by othermeans. Also, while it is designed to use the various features andelements in the combination and relations described, some of these maybe altered and others omitted without interfering with the more generalresults out-lined, and the invention extends to such use.

mentioned shafts,

Havin described my invention, what I: claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent 15:

1. A light interrupting shutter comprising a frame, a plurality ofblades pivoted within said frame, means connecting adjacent blades for.rotation in opposite directions and meanscarried by certain of saidblades for overlapping the adjacent blades on both sides of the latterwhen said blades are in closed osition.

2. A signa ling shutter for searchlights comprising a frame having asubstantially circular opening, a plurality of bladespivoted within saidframe and means compris ing flanges carried on opposite sides ofalterna-te blades for preventing passage of light between adjacentblades and additional flanges on said blades to prevent passage of lightbetween said frame and blades when the latter are in closed position.

A s gnalling .shutter for. searchlights comprising a frame, a pluralityof blades radially pivoted on said. frame and means comprising a memberresiliently connected to said frame and adapted to follow the movementof said blades for preventing leakage of light at the inner ends of saidbla a comprising a frame,

. surrounding said shield into engagement with said blades.

' 5. A signalling shutter for searchlights comprising a frame, aplurality ofblades radially pivoted on said frame, a pair of shields,one located on each of opposite sides of saidblades and adjacent theinner ends thereof, and resilient means for urging said shieldsintoengagement with said blades.

6. A signalling shutter for searchlights a plurality of radially pivotedsector-shaped blades connected to said frame, and means, including anannular member connected to said blades and frame, for operating'saidblades. 7

7. A signalling shutter for searchlights, comprising a frame, aplurality of radially pivoted sector-shaped blades connected to saidframe, means including an annular member connected to said ing saidblades, a solenoid operativ'ely connected to said annular member, asource of E. M. F. and a signalling key for controlling said solenoid.

8. A signalling shutter for searchlights, comprising a frame, aplurality of radially pivoted sector-shaped blades connected to saidframe, an armon each of said blades, the arms on adjacent bladesprojecting in opposite directions, an annular: member provided with armsprojecting alternately on opposite sides, each of said first mentionedarms being connected. to a corresponding one of said second mentionedarms, whereby the actuationof said annular member will rotate adjacentone of said blades in opposite directions.

9. A signalling shutter, for searchlights, comprising a pluralityofradially disposed sector-shaped blades, means for rotating said bladeson radial axes and in opposite directions for opening and closing saidshutter, a slot provided in the radial edges of alternate blades foroverlapping on both sides the edges of intermediate blades wheninclose-d positio v 10. A light-tight shutter comprising a plurality ofpivoted blades, alternate blades being providedon opposite edges with aportion adapted to overlap on the same side of said shutter theintermediate blades, and means for moving said alternate and saidintermediate blades simultaneously in opposite directions.

11. light-tight shutter comprising a plurality of pivoted blades,alternate blades eing provided on opposite edges with a portion adaptedto overlap the intermediate blades, and means comprising an annularmember connected to said blades for operatblades for opera ingadjacentblades simultaneously in op-.

posite directions.

12. A signalling shutter for searchlights, comprising a frame, aplurality of blades pivoted therein on radial axes, means for r0- tatingadjacent blades in opposite directions to closed position, and meanscarried by certain of said blades for overlapping the adjacent bladeswhen said blades are inclosed position.

13. In combination with a Searchlight, a shutter therefor comprising anouter annua central hub portion, a plu:ality of blades pivoted onsubstantially radial axes between said portions, each edge of alternateblades being provided with a groove adapted to receive the edge ofadjacent blade, and means for rotating adjacent blades about their axessimultaneously in opposite directions.

Intestimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

lar portion,

THEODORE HALL.

